Continuous automatic control of feed and blowdown water



c. w. RICE 1,868,432

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF FEED AND BLOWDOWN WATER July 19, 1932.

Filed Aug. 22. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l a W INVENTOR aww WITNESS:

4/nnl July 19, 1932. c. w. RICE 1,868,432

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF -FEED AND BLOWDOWN WATER Filed Aug. 22. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNE55= ATTORNEY July 19, 1932. c. w. RICE 1,868,432

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC CONTROL OF FEED AND BLOWDOWN WATER Filed Aug. 22. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented July 19, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CYRUS WILLIAM RICE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA Application filed August 22, 1927. Serial No. 214,773.

The object of this invention is to provide for the continuous control of blowdown Water with reference to boiler feed water, in such manner that the proportions of one to the 5. other Will be automatically controlled or governed, this result being effected by the means involved in the general installation disclosed in the present case, and by the use of the special apparatus disclosed in other applications I; filed by me and referred to in this case by number.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of elements deli scribed, illustrated and claimed, it being understood that modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus, the elements being in perspective; Figure 2 is a detail view of the operative means for the valve at the upper right hand portion of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of the structure of Figure 1, at

55 the right thereof, to be employed as a heater, a portion of its wall being broken away; Figure 4 is a vertical section through the heat exchanger; Figure 5 is a section on line 55 of Figure 4; Figure 6 is an elevation of 39 a plurality of units such as that of Figure 4;

' Figure 7 shows the arrangement of blowdown coils in an assembly of the kind appearing in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section through a casing having a particular strainer therein,

and connections and valves for controlling the flow of blowdown water in different directions; Figure 9 is a section of pipe G of Figure 1, and a ported plate member therein; Figures 10 and 11 are sections through the valve casings above and below the heater at the right of Figure 1.

It being assumed that any number of boilers desired is connected with the system, these boilers 10 have connected therewith pipes 11, and a main continuous blowdown pipe having indirect connection with all of the boilers, or with any given number, is designated 12. This pipe 12 has connection with a heat exchanging device E, and the blowdown passes thru the inner coil or series of coils 13 of this heat exchanging device, the boiler feed water entering pipe F, this water being relatively cool and passing around inner coil 18, and thru casing 15, the flow being in a direction reverse to that of the direction of flow of the blowdown water. The feed water heated in this manner, passes from heat exchanging device thru pipe G, toward a boiler, or an open or closed heater of standard type.

The blowdown water from inner coil or coils 13 passes thru manifold 18 and valve 55 in pipe K, which may discharge to a waste connection. Special controlling means at this point, for valve 55 may include dia- 05 phragm 56 and weighted arm 58 (as well as connecting means 57 Means for limiting the continuous flow of blowdown water from the boiler or boilers are described in my application Serial No. 209,594 andthes e means include provision for obtaining samples of water for testing purposes. The water from pipe or pipes 11 passes thru a casing L, the short pipe 11 affording the necessary connection with the casing, and passes thru pipe M to the main continuous blow-down pipe 12.

Water under pressure is introduced thru pipe P,this connection being controlled by valve 14, and pipe P may be placed in communication with pipe 11, or pipe P may be employed for washing out strainer S. Valve 14 controls the passage of blowdown water, in the manner shown in case No. 209,594 thru valve 31 adapted to be placed in connection 35 with pipe N which corresponds with the pipe 35 of the aforesaid application Serial No. 209,594, thru which samples may be drawn off for testing purposes, or which is adapted for connection with a discharge pipe. Valve 31 also controls (when properly positioned for that purpose) the passage of water thru channel W which has or which is adapted to have communication with the reduced port in plug T, when the blowdown from pipe 11 is thru 14, toward the right in Figure 8, downwardly at the first duct, and thence through 20, S and plug T.

The construction just described, as being included in the casing L, is therefore employed for limiting the continuous flow of blowdown water from the boiler or boilers, and'provides for obtaining samples for testing purposes. I

The feed water passing from the heat exchanger E thru pipe G flows toward the heater. Special controlling means are. employedbetween the heat exchangerrrE .andithe open heater, and these means are disclosed in detail in my application, Serial No. 210,937.

For purposes of illustration, in order to show the control, at this point, broadly, in this case, reference will be. madeto. one vform wherein the water level in the open heater 40, shown conventionally, determines the position of. float 41, operating arm :42 sELHdTOd, 43. The element 43controls arm 4.41am stem-45 '=of valve? 46, which valve: opens. to an extent -pa-sses thru the port or orifice et9zin-plate' 4:8, and pressure reduction takes placeirr pipe 47 determined by .the fluctuation: of-water level in the open-heater, and consequently :-de-. .termined by thedemandsofithe boiler for feed water. The water fiowingfrom-pipe 1G and pipe 54, this reduction-determining the extent of opening otvvalve i55 constituting a pressure controlled valve. iofistandard type, and including diaphragm 56 and; governing exchanger where theiiinitial heating-of; :the

the flow ,of blowdown': waterfthru *the heat feed water takes place-,1.to; anp-oint ofrdischarge. 1 Means: for: 'pr-oportioning :theflow of; blowdown water with ,thei feed'watenwill therefore-be apparent.

When the concentrations: in a boiler are'too high or too low, and it is. desiredto alterzthese conditions, the force: acting on val-ve: :55 through lever arm 58 is varied, andithez-pressure in pipes 47 and 5l-increased1or decreased, thereby controlling: the r flowrofpblowdown water past valve 5r5',cwith,a=resultmg control :of theboiler concentrations.

In Figure 1 the upper longitudinal:pipe,

' p arallel with pipe" 12 and"v marked 70, admits J .fresh- Water under pressure to casings .L', and I athellower pipe 71 parallel" with pipe :12 'isa :large ormain blowdown pipe, haying-direct connection with the boilers.

"Having described. the; invention what is I claimed is:

The :method' herein: described, which coneSlStS in; initially heating @boiler Pfed' water by :boil'er blow down water, conveying the'" feed -water partially heated to secondary 1 heating :'1neans,'and automatically regulating 'the fiow or blow downwater toward a point of final discharge by variation in the. pressure of the :feed water after the initial heatingthereof,

said variation being inproportionto'the demands of the secondaryheating, means for feed water.

In testimony whereof I afiixmysignature.

- CYRUS. =WILLIAM )RICE. 

